The National iden­tity card, billed for launch by Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan next week, will help in maintaining na­tional security and serve the identity needs of Nige­rians.
Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo stated on Friday, after being registered for his National Identifica­tion Number (NIN), at the National Identity Manage­ment Commission (NIMC), in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
He noted that the issuance of the national identity card was long overdue, adding that the government of Nige­ria in1979 had plan to imple­ment same project but there were protests against it, and hoped the present one would be sustained.
The ex-president said that many francophone countries had embarked on the project many years back, maintain­ing that the step would help in maintaining security issue in the country.
He canvassed for the in­clusion of blood groups of Nigerians on the cards in case of any emergency as a result of accident.
He said, “It is a document every Nigerian deserves, which is even late in com­ing. But we thank God that after the initial step in 1979, more than 30 years ago, we have come back to it and I hope that this step that we are taking now will be sustained and will serve the need of all Nigerians.
“It will also help us to maintain a little bit of secu­rity. Our francophone sis­ter countries have had this for many years. When we first made the attempt in 1979,there were people fight­ing against it”.
“Nobody is now protest­ing, I see people now wanting to have it, it is good. Maybe, those other institutions that are still keeping separate identification of individuals in one form or the other will be able to join hands so that with one identity card, you don’t need a driving licence, you will not need another card for voting, you will not need another card for your contributory pension, you will not need another card for your health insurance.
“But, with one card, you will not only be identified, you will be able to do your business throughout Nigeria. As I said, I hope that as time goes on, we will even be able to include blood group of individuals, so that even if anybody has an accident and he needs blood transfusion, it is from the identity card that you will know what blood group he belongs and what type of blood he requires.”
Earlier, Ogun State gover­nor, Senator Ibikunle Amo­sun, after being registered at Oke-Mosan, said the national identity card was long over­due.
He added, “now that it is a reality, it would help the gov­ernment to plan for people of different age groups of 16-35, 35-60 and 60 and above.
Responding, the Director of Information Technology and Identity Database, Engi­neer Aliu Aziz, commended the response of Nigerians over the project, assuring that the Commission would not fail as against the difficulty sometimes experienced on the project.

National ID card ‘ll help security –Obasanjo